Opinions expressed in news posts are those of individual businesses and not those of the Real Diaper Industry Association. RDIA members are welcome to send their news items to info@realdiaperindustry.org.

14 Jul 2014 1:59 PM |
Anonymous

Retailers, manufacturers, and diaper service business owners will gather for three resource packed days of information sharing, strategizing, and networking. Retail Systems Research, a leader in retail analysis, will share their expertise regarding effective use of retail technology, and share pragmatic investments you can make to maximize your digital, and personal connection with your customers and grow your business. In addition to RSR’s evidence based retail presentations, the conference content will focus on the latest Consumer Product Safety Compliance guidelines, technology solutions for independent business owners, modernization of diaper services, consumer education classes, and garnering the most success from your social media marketing efforts.

The Cloth Diaper Business Conference is organized by the Real Diaper Industry Association. RDIAstrives to make reusable cloth diapers the primary choice for babies’ parents and caregivers while emphasizing responsibility and sustainability through a focus on people, planet, and profit. RDIA works toward these goals by providing service and opportunities through business education, industry research, collaborative marketing, and group benefits.

Real Diaper Industry Association (RDIA) has joined the Advocates for Independent Business (AIB), a coalition of trade associations and other organizations that represent locally owned, independent businesses.

AIB provides a structure for its member organizations to exchange information about successful programs that deliver value for their members, generate new ideas to support independent businesses, and work together to advocate for shared public policy goals. "Building a national coalition gives independent businesses a stronger voice on critical public policy issues," said Stacy Mitchell, program director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance which is coordinating the AIB's work. "It will also provide a great way for these organizations to share ideas and develop new strategies and programs to help their members thrive."

Recognizing the significant opportunity of having an ongoing vehicle for sharing ideas and collaborating to support independent businesses, the founding members of AIB began meeting in 2013 to create the coalition.

“RDIA is excited to join AIB. A majority of our members are small, independent businesses,” said Janelle Cridland, Executive Director of RDIA. “We seek to level the playing field for our members and we know that requires collaboration. RDIA understands the need to come together and find common ground in order to be able to compete in today’s tough marketplace. We are also committed to identifying and eliminating unfair competition and have been working hard to provide tools and resources to help our member business and consumers understand the issues. We recently launched a website, cleandiapers.org that serves as an information hub addressing unfair competition in the cloth diaper industry.”

24 Feb 2014 12:40 PM |
Anonymous

Real Diaper Industry Association announces steps to promote and support distribution of the RDA 2014 Report on Cloth Diaper Co-ops. This position paper produced by Real Diaper Association (RDA), examines the impact cloth diaper co-ops have on the cloth diaper movement. It provides guidance about co-ops to protect consumers and to advance both RDIA and RDA’s mission of promoting and increasing the use of reusable cloth diapers.

"Emily McCay, owner of The Diaper Fairy LLC, has moved her reusuable cloth diaper service from her Highlands home to a new storefront. Diaper Fairy Cottage opened at 1811 Bardstown Road about three weeks ago.

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania - Happy Baby Company is now in the heart of Bellevue, north of Pittsburgh. The store was developed and is operated by Judy and Brandon McAuley as a natural parenting boutique, featuring cloth diapers as well as a wide array of baby carriers plus unique natural and eco-friendly toys and body care products for baby and mom. The store also stocks some hard-to-find baby items, such as high-end car seats.

“We strive to be a location for natural-minded parents to find those items they read about online, to let them see and touch the products in person before purchasing them. As a small, local business, we want our customers to feel good about where they shop and what they buy,” said Judy McAuley. “We also pride ourselves on our ability to help customers do what they need to do, from properly fitting a carrier to advising about cloth diapers.” In addition to diapers and baby goods, the company continues to offer its popular subscription laundry service through Green Cheeks Diaper Service.

Cloth diapers remain at the heart of the Happy Baby Company’s product line. The owners have a passion for spreading the news that cloth diapers are back–and don’t involve rubber pants and safety pins anymore. Modern cloth diapering is simple, and can save upwards of $2000 in comparison to using disposable diapers, not to mention the health and environmental benefits. “A typical baby will send one ton of diapers to the landfill in the time that they are in diapers,” said Brandon, “and it’s estimated that they’ll take at least 500 years to decompose.” The financial savings jumps to around $4000 for each subsequent child to use the diapers.

Happy Baby Company is celebrating its grand opening December 14th and 15th with extended weekend hours, special discounts, and giveaways of great products from some of its vendors, including Moby Wrap, bumGenius, Bummis, Moraki, Blueberry, Rockabye Baby, Manhattan Toy, Munchie Mug and Thirsties. Join us at 558 Lincoln Avenue from 10:00am-5:00pm on Saturday, December 14th and 11:00am-3:00pm on Sunday, December 15th to meet Pittsburgh’s premier natural baby products store! We will also be collecting non-perishable goods for North Hills Community Outreach.

Happy Baby Company is Pittsburgh's only source for thoughtful, natural parenting products. Adam and Lillian Cannon began the company in 2009 as Pittsburgh Cloth Diapers, working out of their home, with a mission to make cloth diapering easy, based on their experience with their own four children. They operated Happy Baby Company as a storefront in Robinson before returning it to a home-based business in 2012. In 2013, the company was purchased by Judy and Brandon McAuley, owners of Green Cheeks Diaper Service. The company offers a wide variety selection of natural parenting products, diaper classes, and a place for local families to meet and gather. The company’s “Cloth Diapering 101” class help Pittsburgh area parents learn essential facts, and give participants receive discount coupons to be used on future purchases. It serves as the home of Green Cheeks Diaper Service.

About Green Cheeks Diaper Service:

Green Cheeks Diaper Service was founded in 2010 by Judy and Brandon McAuley and serves the greater Pittsburgh area. A subscription diaper service brings weekly deliveries of fresh, clean organic cotton diapers to your doorstep and makes using cloth diapers easy for those who don’t have the time or inclination to launder their own.

Sacramento, California -- Today, Real Diaper Industry Association (RDIA) board Executive Committee announced the hire of Janelle Cridland as Executive Director of the Association. This is the result of a campaign launched early in 2013, culminating in a nationwide search and interview process. Ms. Cridland comes to the association with over 30 years experience managing both non-profit and for-profit organizations and supporting associations. The board looks forward to her leading the association, enabling it to grow in a structured, supported and strategic manner. She believes associations provide the tools that enable smaller organizations to work together toward common goals that would otherwise be unreasonable to achieve. To assist Ms. Cridland, the board has hired Michelle Dominguez as Assistant Executive Director. Ms. Dominguez also has extensive non-profit management experience and has served as our 2013 Conference Planning Chair and worked on the organizing committee for the 2013 Great Cloth Diaper Change event. Michelle’s passion for cloth diaper advocacy and experience will compliment Janelle’s skill set in strengthening the association programs and expanding its member benefits.

Founded in 2008, Real Diaper Industry Association is an international association that strives to make reusable cloth diapers the primary choice for babies’ parents and caregivers while emphasizing responsibility and sustainability through a focus on people, planet, and profit. RDIA works toward these goals by providing service and opportunities through business education, industry research, collaborative marketing, and group benefits.

Sara Moore of Ju-Ju Monkey, RDIA board member representing retailers, has just opened a brick & mortar store. The following article about her store appeared in her local newspaper.

"Ju-Ju Monkey, a natural parenting store selling environmentally friendly and sustainable products for children and parents, is set to open this week (by Friday) at 4755 Tilghman St. (in the Kmart shopping center) in South Whitehall Township.

"Owner Sara Moore of Schnecksville had been operating the business online and out of a showroom in her home since 2010. The idea for the company arose from a desire to learn more about cloth diapering for her now 5-year-old son, Collin. (Ju-Ju Monkey was his nickname as a baby.)"

Bummis (Manufacturer)Charter member since 10 September 2008Montreal, Quebec

It's Our Anniversary

25 Years of Bummis

In this, our celebratory 25th year, we are in the most dynamic phase of our business ever - developing new products and perfecting ourselves. We are growing beyond just the cloth diaper business. We thrive on the closer, more immediate and meaningful relationships with our customers that we have in this age of intense social networking. And, we find that today's consumer understands better and cares more about what we have always been saying:

the way we do business DOES matter.

Here at Bummis we believe that business is an important vehicle for social change. That's why it is so important that we do it right. And part of doing it right for us means doing it HERE.